MUSKEGON, MI – Muskegon County Commissioners are no strangers to controversy over a policy that would favor local bids to sell the county goods or services.

But they'll soon be sitting down together soon to talk about it again, this time in a workshop setting rather than the board room.

Charles Nashx

District 6 County Commissioner Charles Nash put forward a local preference ordinance on Thursday, Feb. 21, when county commissioners met as the Ways and Means Committee.

"Basically, what we're trying to do is help our local economy and keep dollars in the community," he said.

Nash's proposed ordinance was tabled and will be discussed by commissioners at a workshop on a yet-to-be-determined date in the next couple of weeks. Because a quorum of the elected leaders will likely be present, the workshop will be an official meeting and open to the public, said Muskegon County Administrator Bonnie Hammersley.

"I think there are a majority of people that want to see (such) a policy," he said.

But whether all of the commissioners can agree on the details is uncertain. For example, while Nash's proposal had focused on businesses in Muskegon County, District 5 Marvin R. Engle, for instance, would rather include businesses in the greater regional area, including Kent County.

"I am concerned that we are looking at making the definition much too small," he said.

Engle believes Muskegon County needs to work its neighbors in the region for economic growth in the future.

"The board as a whole needs to determine where the best interests of Muskegon are," he said.

The Muskegon County Board of Commissioners can already decide to award work to a local company over a low-bid firm from outside the area. But Nash said a policy would give the county's staff some guidelines to work from as they pull bids to recommend to the commissioners.

"All it does is help our staff to make recommendations that we may or may not accept," Nash said.